New Delhi: Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses were involved in nearly 150 accidents, including 41 fatal ones, in 2024-25.While the first category of buses was part of 97 crashes, 21 of which were fatal, cluster buses were involved in 50 accidents, resulting in 20 deaths, Delhi govt data shows. Twenty-seven of all accidents were major, 15 of which involved DTC buses and the rest cluster buses. Seventy-nine minor crashes — 61 of them involved DTC buses and 18 cluster buses — were reported. The standard 12-metre govt buses that run in the city accounted for the bulk of the accidents.The data highlights the need for more safety measures, proper training of drivers and stricter monitoring to reduce such crashes and their severity.Over 6,400 DTC and cluster buses were operated on an average every day in 2024-2025, catering to lakhs of commuters across Delhi-NCR. The corporation ran a daily average of about 3,500 buses drawn from a fleet of nearly 3,800 buses. Cluster buses operated by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System added close to 3,000 buses out of its total fleet of around 3,150. These buses run on arterial roads as well as congested city routes. Narrow carriageways, mixed traffic and weak lane discipline increases the risk of collisions, especially during peak hours, according to Delhi govt sources.They cited frequent overspeeding, lack of enforcement of dedicated bus lanes, poor road design and weak compliance with traffic rules as recurring causes behind the bus accidents. Instances of drivers talking on mobile phones were also flagged. Cases of them suffering sudden medical emergencies, including heart attacks, while on duty, were noted. In some cases, internal investigations pointed to poorly trained drivers and also drunk driving, according to the sources.Instances of bus drivers being pulled up for lane violations have decreased in recent times, they claimed. A DTC bus driver, who did not wish to be named, told TOI, “The drivers operate under pressure to maintain their schedule amid chaotic traffic.” The transport corporation has roped in private operators to train drivers of DTC’s electric buses, a senior official said, adding that it has been decided the licence of a driver found guilty of causing an accident will be suspended for at least six months.Last June, two DTC buses collided near Shadipur depot, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to two others. In August, a DTC bus lost control in Shakarpur, killing a 63-year-old autorickshaw driver.Multiple crashes involving these buses took place across the city in Oct. In Vishwas Nagar, a DTC bus rammed a bike, an e-rickshaw and a school van, injuring three people, including an eight-year-old child. In Dayalpur, a metro feeder bus hit a 55-year-old motorcyclist, killing him.In Nov, an electric DTC bus crashed in Shastri Nagar, leaving two people critically injured. The next month, a bus being driven on the wrong side hit a car and an autorickshaw in west Delhi, injuring at least two people.
